Recombinant HVT vectors expressing antigens of avian pathogens and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides recombinant herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) vectors that contain and express antigens of avian pathogens, compositions comprising the recombinant HVT vectors, polyvalent vaccines comprising the recombinant HVT vectors and one or more wild type viruses or recombinant vectors. The present invention further provides methods of vaccination against a variety of avian pathogens and method of producing the recombinant HVT vectors.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A composition or vaccine comprising one recombinant herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) vector comprising at least one or more heterologous polynucleotides coding for and expressing at least one antigen of an avian pathogen, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a Newcastle Disease Virus F (NDV-F) polypeptide and is operably linked to an SV40 promoter, and wherein the polynucleotide is codon-optimized. 
     
     
       2. The composition or vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the NDV-F polypeptide has at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 33, 35, or 37. 
     
     
       3. The composition or vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide encoding the NDV-F polypeptide is operably linked to an SV40 polyA signal. 
     
     
       4. The composition or vaccine of  claim 3 , wherein the polynucleotide encoding the NDV-F polypeptide, the operably linked SV40 promoter, and the SV40 polyA signal are inserted in the IG1 (intergenic region 1) locus of HVT genome. 
     
     
       5. The composition or vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the composition or vaccine further comprises a second recombinant HVT vector comprising a heterologous polynucleotide coding for and expressing IBDV VP2 antigen. 
     
     
       6. The composition or vaccine of  claim 5 , wherein the second recombinant HVT vector is the HVT vector included in VAXXITEK™ HVT+IBD. 
     
     
       7. The composition or vaccine of  claim 1  or  5 , wherein the composition or vaccine is a multivalent composition further comprising one or more recombinant SB1 vectors or the parental SB1 strain. 
     
     
       8. The composition or vaccine of  claim 7 , wherein the recombinant SB1 vector comprises one or more heterologous polynucleotides coding for and expressing a Newcastle Disease Virus F (NDV-F) antigen. 
     
     
       9. The composition or vaccine of  claim 8 , wherein the SB1 vector is selected from the group consisting of an SB1 vector comprising an SV40 promoter and a polynucleotide encoding an NDV-F antigen inserted in the region coding for glycoprotein C (UL44) of the SB1 vector, an SB1 vector comprising a guinea pig CMV promoter and a polynucleotide encoding an NDV-F antigen inserted in the region between SORF4 and US2 of the SB1 vector, an SB1 vector comprising an mCMV IE promoter and a polynucleotide encoding an NDV-F antigen inserted in the region US10 of the SB1 vector, and an SB1 vector comprising an SV40 promoter and a polynucleotide encoding an NDV-F antigen inserted in the region between UL55 and LORF5 of the SB1 vector. 
     
     
       10. The composition or vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the HVT vector comprises a first heterologous polynucleotide coding for and expressing a Newcastle Disease Virus F (NDV-F) antigen having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 33, 35, or 37 and a second heterologous polynucleotide coding for and expressing an Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) VP2 antigen having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:8 or 42. 
     
     
       11. The composition or vaccine of  claim 10 , wherein the polynucleotide encoding the IBDV VP2 antigen is operably linked to a CMV promoter. 
     
     
       12. The composition or vaccine of  claim 11 , wherein the polynucleotide encoding the NDV-F antigen is operably linked to an SV40 polyA signal and the polynucleotide encoding the IBDV VP2 antigen is operably linked to an SV40 polyA signal. 
     
     
       13. The composition or vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein the polynucleotide encoding the NDV-F antigen, the operably linked SV40 promoter, and the SV40 polyA signal are inserted in the IG1 locus of the HVT genome, and wherein the polynucleotide encoding the IBDV VP2 antigen, the operably linked CMV promoter, and the SV40 polyA signal are inserted in the IG1 locus or the SORF3-US2 locus of the HVT genome. 
     
     
       14. The composition or vaccine of  claim 10 , wherein the composition or vaccine further comprises a second recombinant HVT vector comprising a heterologous polynucleotide coding for and expressing an IBDV VP2 antigen. 
     
     
       15. The composition or vaccine of  claim 14 , wherein the recombinant HVT vector is the HVT vector included in VAXXITEK™ HVT+IBD. 
     
     
       16. The composition or vaccine of  claim 10 , wherein the composition or vaccine is a multivalent composition or vaccine further comprising one or more recombinant SB1 vectors or the parental SB1 strain. 
     
     
       17. The composition or vaccine of  claim 16 , wherein the recombinant SB1 vector comprises one or more heterologous polynucleotides coding for and expressing a Newcastle Disease Virus F (NDV-F) antigen. 
     
     
       18. The composition or vaccine of  claim 17 , wherein the SB1 vector is selected from the group consisting of an SB1 vector comprising an SV40 promoter and a polynucleotide encoding an NDV-F antigen inserted in the region coding for glycoprotein C (UL44) of the SB1 vector, an SB1 vector comprising a guinea pig CMV promoter and a polynucleotide encoding an NDV-F antigen inserted in the region between SORF4 and US2 of the SB1 vector, an SB1 vector comprising an mCMV IE promoter and a polynucleotide encoding an NDV-F antigen inserted in the region US10 of the SB1 vector, and an SB1 vector comprising an SV40 promoter and a polynucleotide encoding an NDV-F antigen inserted in the region between UL55 and LORF5 of the SB1 vector. 
     
     
       19. A method of vaccinating an animal comprising at least one administration of the composition or vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is avian. 
     
     
       20. A method for inducing an immunogenic or protective response in an animal against one or more avian pathogens comprising at least one administration of the composition or vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is avian. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the avian pathogen is selected from the group consisting of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (i.e., IBDV or Gumboro Disease virus), Marek's Disease Virus (MDV), Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (ILTV), avian encephalomyelitis virus, avian reovirus, avian paramyxovirus, avian metapneumovirus, avian influenza virus, avian adenovirus, fowl pox virus, avian coronavirus, avian rotavirus, avian parvovirus, avian astrovirus and chick anemia virus coccidiosis ( Eimeria  sp.),  Campylobacter  sp.,  Salmonella  sp.,  Mycoplasma  gallisepticum,  Mycoplasma  synoviae,  Pasteurella  sp.,  Avibacterium  sp.,  E. coli  and  Clostridium  sp.